PREGAME NOTES: Torres to have surgery, won’t be ready for spring training

Andres Torres will have bone spurs removed from his left foot, ending his season and putting the rest of his career in doubt.

Manager Bruce Bochy said Torres would need at least six months of rehab, meaning he would not be able to be ready for the start of camp next season. Torres, 35, will be a free agent at the end of this season.

Torres was placed on the disabled list last week with a left Achilles strain and Bochy said the tendon is fine. But given that Torres has always relied on his speed, the foot surgery could prove to be too tough to recover from.

“I know that’s what Andres has been thinking about,” Bochy said. “When he comes back, you see how he’s running. It’s such a big part of his game.”

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Torres hit just .250 in his return to the Giants and proved to be a surprising liability on defense. He made five errors after committing just eight in his first eight seasons and was so lost at times in left field that the Giants switched up their alignment just before the All-Star break, moving Gregor Blanco to left and Torres to center, where he felt more comfortable.

“He struggled from the left side and his outfield play, it’s fair to say, wasn’t as strong,” Bochy said. “He thinks the Achilles (injury) played a part in that. Andres gives you everything he has, but he made some mental lapses in the outfield.
“It’s fair to say that it wasn’t the type of year he was hoping for and we were hoping for.”

Despite the struggles, Torres was a popular figure in the clubhouse and Bochy said they exchanged texts Tuesday.

“He said ‘I’m doing great,’ “ Bochy said. “He’s looking forward to getting this thing taken care of so it doesn’t nag him occasionally.”

— Torres wasn’t going to play much in September if he returned, so not much changes. Bochy said he will continue to play the young outfielders and mentioned the fact that another could be coming. Asked if that would be Gary Brown, Bochy was noncommittal. (Juan Perez and Kensuke Tanaka are on the 40-man and Perez certainly fits the ‘young outfielder’ mold.)

Brown is hitting just .216 in August after a hot stretch earlier in the summer. Overall, he’s at .233 with a .289 OBP and .383 slugging percentage. He has 13 homers and 15 stolen bases, but also has been caught stealing 11 times.

“It’s been an up and down year,” Bochy said. “I’m sure he’s a little disappointing about how his year has gone. You’ve got to keep pushing, keep trying to get better.”

Bochy said he is talking with Brian Sabean daily and they are considering bringing up five or six players. Jake Dunning and George Kontos could add pitching depth and Heath Hembree is a near-lock to get a look. Torres can now be put on the 60-day DL, but Angel Pagan is coming off of that and will be here on Sept. 1. It’s also a pretty good bet that Nick Noonan will be back to provide infield depth.

The Giants are also talking about adding a third catcher to the 40-man roster and active roster, and while Guillermo Quiroz is back in Fresno, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Johnny Monell here. He has a .368 OBP down there and has hit 20 homers, and he impressed coaches during spring training.

Alex Pavlovic

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Been nice to know ya, Yungo and hoping for the best in recovery. Great contributions to SF’s first World Championship. Never to be forgotten. This is probably a last hurrah as a Giant, so hip, hip hurray!

carmot

Yes please! Johnny Monell! Sure, why not?

I feel a bit deceived by Torres for coming and signing here while he was already injured for most of 2012. As much as I’ve loved him as a previous Giant, this weighs on my mind. No bueno.

I’m happy if the Train Bust isn’t worried about starting the clock on Hembree. The eval period this last month offers is well worth taking advantage of IMO. When we’ve left roster construction to ST, how well has that ever worked out for us? Do it now, good.

If any are interested, I posted a couple relevant tweets from major sports media re: Giants at the end of the last thread. I won’t bother to re-post. If you’re interested, there you go. I’ll say this: Crick to AFL and Bum not likely to be shut down nor skipped… Alex just covered most of the others.

that was an awesome, truthful scouting report, you offered earlier. Everyone who’s interested in prospects should take a look.

Especially the line about the low ground ball rate. I hereby offer Kendry Flores to Lefty for a PTBNL.

When the farm seems as dismal as it’s made out to be; and as it seems when in times of need, then it’s easy to get geeked up about some guys putting up numbers in Single A.

These young pitchers have a long ways to go. Kyle Crick may never harness his command. Chris Stratton may harness everything and become Cain-lite. You never know.

As for hitters, it is easy to get excited about Mac Williamson as he’s basically it. But it’s also important to remember Thomas Neal put up an OPS over 1.000 for San Jose. Roger Kieschnick was in the high .800′s like Williamson.

Let’s see how Big Mac does in AA – where the wheat gets separated from the chaff. Brandon Belt, yes. Adam Duvall, not so much.

Bring more truth (outside the #’s – or deeper inside the #’s) when you got it Vegas. Thanks.

====

Jack Kerouac vs. Charles Kuralt

Matthew

MLBSF – do you find it slightly ironic that you post more than almost anyone, and the theme of many of those very posts are to call out some others that post almost more than anyone?

Rodney King

Cant we all just get along?

BurgerKing

Have it your way!

thefarnz

@Matthew….right on about MilbSF

Just a troll

Vspot

I personally, would like to see players we have not seen yet

thefarnz

@Vspot…can you wait until September??

carmot

Foothills:

Some good points about A+ level pro ball. We’ve still yet to see how our young prospects perform when facing more advanced level players- pitchers and hitters.

I totally understand why people are paying attention to Mac Williamson, he’s our best-hitting young prospect. But yeah, Pegs and Duvall also opened eyes, so have others… Only to come back down a bit when moving through the progression.

But how about Devin Harris?
I say he should be earning more of our attention too. I understand people here might think my idea of trying to formulate some sort of ADJ+ evaluative stat is nothing short of some crazy notion on my part. By consider this: I get a A+ level ADJ+ for:

Williamson __13.029 ADJ+
Harris ______11.758 ADJ+

While this doesn’t translate to MLB directly, it should translate to comps between players in the same level of MiLB, and somewhat between different levels of MiLB. The measuring table means that ADJ+: 8= “serviceable” (MLB: Sandoval/Walker), 9= is “competitive” (Crawford/McLouth), 10= is “very good” (Starling Marte), 11= “noteworthy” (Belt/Choo/A Gon), 12= “exceptional” (Votto/Posey/Alvarez/J Upton), 13= All-Star candidate (Puig/Freeman).

scutaro will be the next one with a health issue that Bochy didn’t know anything about.

Mike Souza

Can’t wait to hear Mike Pukow say, “Bettis is dealing” around the 6th inning. So tired of Pukow giving bum pitchers praise while this putrid offense continues to fail.

ClutchUp

Al Roker 1
vs.
Al Roker 2

johnfromnj

I see the 3rd catcher issue is being planned. Hopefully it’s a new face. Nothing against Q, but if 2014 tryouts are in effect it makes sense to take a look at the next young guy on the ladder.

MLBSF

Tell us how you feel Mike. Take the good with the bad. Be a good soldier. Get off before midnight once in awhile.

And like my brother, take your BiPolar medicine daily.

You either love or hate everyone on a day to day basis.

Hug your son
Hug your daughter
Hug yourself

MLBSF 1.0

MLBSF

On occassion Souza hated on Pence…but he won’t admit it.

smh

MLBSF 1.0

Matthew

Great…now every time I see Todd Helton, I’m stuck thinking of Paul Giamatti.

Thanks a lot, Lefty

Woj

Torres – Nice guy, get well but you stopped being a legit M.L. player about 2.5 seasons ago. Good luck to you in your retirement. We’ll find other outfielders for the 2014 team – thanks.

Glad Sabean helped infuse your retirement fund with $2 Million this year. Wish I had a boss that could send me off in the last year with that kind of cash.

Yeah Sabean’s right – Giants would not want to overpay for Free Agent in 2012 Michael Cuddyer. S.F. has no use for a 20+ HR .930 OPS middle of the order big bopper like that.

http://nada paul in p.v.

Matthew – everytime I see Toolo, I see A.Jack Projinkski. gilliigan

Dodgerblue

Torres was never a ML player. It was a fluke in 2010. He is a .220 hitter lifetime just ask the Mets. So he is actually over performing. Never ever had hit more than 10 home runs in a season too. Giants were a complete fluke winning with scrubs like Torres, Huff who had batted .140 in the Tigers, Burrell who was hitting .190 with the Rays and Uribe LOL. Finally the luck has run out and this are the real Gnats LOL

stickman

Didn’t hear much on this blog from LaBumbos fans last season. Wonder why. Now a blue bantam is crowing on toppa his $240M dungheap of mercenaries. Yes, it’s been a long dry spell for them and they been wailing the bluuz for years. Giants have developed more good players in recent years than the Bums, but there’s always that Guggenheim money.

ClutchUp

TYPICAL DODGER TROLL

Andres Torres hit 16 HR’s in 2010.

FAorthopod

Josh willingham on waivers. Owed 7 mill in 2014. Who thinks the giants should take a look?

Well that’s what I am saying in 2010 it was a fluke. Never before or after has he hit 10 home runs in a season and the Dodgers have the best pitcher in baseball in Kershaw and have produced an all star like Kemp 11th rounder, Billingsley, Jansen. Giants can only produce top picks who doesn’t? And Dodgers got the next Tulo Corey Seager. The Gnats can keep their scrubs if they want because chemistry is what counts doesn’t it Belt? LOL

@ClutchUp-there’s nothing about that gut that D-fans would claim as a D-fan, if you catch my drift…

MLBSF

Matthew says:
August 27th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
5..
MLBSF – do you find it slightly ironic that you post more than almost anyone, and the theme of many of those very posts are to call out some others that post almost more than anyone?

===========

Um okay Matthew,

Please. For one thing, most of the posts are by my impersonator (who is clearly a member of the gang of 4).

It’s funny how furious the pollyannas get when people like me and woj write truthful comments about the team.

Right now, tickets are selling for as low as $6 for the upcoming homestand against Arizona.

Which is of course $5.95 more than they should cost to watch this team.

This season can’t get over fast enough. Worst defending world series champion team in sports history .. it’s time to put a stake through their hearts and get on with football.

LetsSpeculate

Hector Sanchez currently sitting at a wRC+ of 105. 5th best on the team, at the moment.

Lefty

The Oracle says:
August 27th, 2013 at 4:05 pm
Lefty…if you’re being compared to Paul Giamatti, its definitely time to retire. If you give up a home run to a guy who’s being compared to Paul Giamatti, its also time to retire.
————————
I can’t argue with that and won’t even try.

Matthew

MLBSF, great to know you are a Steely Dan fan…..

Pretzel logic

2holehitting

Quite sad, eveyone here and int he Giants want a power hitting left fielder. So they play Kieshnik (13 HR in the minors none in the majors) and Paguero a singles hitter.

They have Belt who came up a month ago, and in starts is hitting well over 350 since being called up with power. But hte problem 5 freakin starts.

the guy once again goes 3 for 4 and gets benched for several more games.

Pathetic, If I was Pill I would demand a release or a trade like Nate.

2holehitting

They had PILL who came up a month ago mashing in his starts. In 1 month 6 starts. His last 2 starts 4 for 7 and benched again….

just pissed at how they treat this kid.

D

Wow, Alex just tweeted Pence’s HR was the longest in MLB this year–476 feet (according to ESPN stats & info).

http://jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com/ sanfradodgerfan

Bad call Blue.

jints don’t need any help but Petit got jobbed

ClutchUp

“One, two, three strikes, you’re out for good”

You may be sorry that you missed this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but John Cross didn’t miss notice of it. Friday night’s San Rafael Pacifics baseball game was designated “Funeral Night” and was hosted by Mount Tamalpais Mortuary. Fans were invited to “submit a 200-word obituary of themselves,” the best of which would entitle the writer to “win their very own funeral.” This event might have been appropriate for a better-known local baseball team, too.

MLBSF, Its called being blunt and getting to the point… & I never hated on Pence EVER you troll who moronically claims he has an imposter. Glad I was wrong tonight about the offense.

http://jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com/ sanfradodgerfan

Bee’s like dat, sometimes.

Mike Souza

MLBSF,
You are an absolute dOuche. You talk about people who post too much, but you post more than anybody on this site idiot.

Matthew

Wow, this place is like the set of Jerry Springer….

http://jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com/ sanfradodgerfan

Meanwhile…SD is trying to give it away to AZ

The Oracle

MLBSF are both intelligent, occasionally display a sense of humor, and both post primarily to irritate others. Are they the same person?

The Oracle

MLBSF and Polio, that is.

http://jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com/ sanfradodgerfan

BTW, Clutch…The Splash is a dead end tonight.

Tonight?

thefarnz

Have I ever said how much I like Mike Souza’s post? they are the most consistent based upon current events!

MLBSF

smh poor mike souza. Ever here about anger management?
Ever hear about verbally slapping the S out of a player or coach or broadcaster only to come back later and say something even MORE moronic than “oops sorry I was wrong” (about the offense)
Ever here about BiPolar?
You’re a text book case
carmot is right behind you
woj is in there somewhere
pacman’s cool
polyps has lost his/her cool
sam is a sham (he’s also one of the above and also R.I. N.R.I)

Mike:Your a hammer, a scr*w driver, a rake … a TOOL.

smh

MLBSF 1.0

http://jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com/ sanfradodgerfan

Anger management is a myth.

smh

This IS a baseball blog, ya?

Kershaw has a very high pitch count and LA is down 1-0 in the 3rd.

Try staying on topic, children and playing nicely

thefarnz

Wait…we have Dodger fan who is literate, coherent, and knowledgeable?

And not abusive?

http://jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com/ sanfradodgerfan

One born of the fair Bay Area, no less. Don’t be harsh and judge D-fans based on these other two. Most of friends are D-fans and are wo/men of grace, good humor and intelligence.

stickman

Very nice outing by Petit. Figuring he was a callup getting a start in the Box of Rox we could darn near say it was excellent. Another start or two like this and we might have our long-man/sixth starter. Rosario got in trouble, surrendered a run and kept out of further trouble vs a couple pretty decent hitters. Yeah, he’s probably a keeper.

http://jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com/ sanfradodgerfan

SOLID pitchers duel in Chavez tonight

The Oracle

Sanchez is looking good since his return. He may once again have some legitimate value as a trade chip. Not that I’d advocate trading him just for the sake of making a trade, but if another team sees him as a #1 catcher, he might be very useful in filling one of the weaknesses.

2holehitting

Don’t look now but Hector is about to run his W/L record to 7 wins and 5 losses in games he starts.

Things just go better with Hector. Once a winner always a winner.

don’t root for the richest

I see the Argentine fungus gnats are gnawing at this blog. Minuscule little critters, aren’t they? Squeaky little voices.

Giants take a lead into the 9th. Good hitting, decent pitching. So far.

ClutchUp

When Barmes dropped the head of the bat and hit one out off of Madison the other night – it reminded me back when they were trying to replace Fontenot etc – I was thinking he would be a good Giant off the bench. I guess thats when they went to Arias, Theriot etc.

Speaking of LA. Scully was funny when he described Jim Tracy’s tirade…back when….”it was blinking fertilizer”

I see why those southern cone travelogues didn’t jump off the racks at that used bookstore, P C

http://jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com/ sanfradodgerfan

Clutch, SonsOfSteveGarvey has a ton of Vin Moments. You should check em out. Some are priceless.

Foothills Ryan

Channelclemente needs to educate Belt about the finer points of backspinning the ball. That could have been an HR. Gumby shoulders followed.

stickman

Belt is in a nice groove at 4-5 with the solitary out being that lineout to deep right. He’s looking good in that three spot and would fit well batting second as well. Not so much cleanup, i think. At this point in his career he’s more of an OBP man with plenty of doubles, the odd triple, a few stolen bases and enough clout to keep em honest.

Polioptila Californica

So, the meltdown now appears to be up to Romito.

LetsSpeculate

If the Giants keep Lincecum, it’ll be a good idea to keep Hector Sanchez around too, since he does much better with Hector as his catcher (true even with the no-no thrown to Buster).

ClutchUp

2holehitting says: August 27th, 2013 at 8:33 pm 58..Don’t look now but Hector is about to run his W/L record to 7 wins and 5 losses in games he starts.Things just go better with Hector. Once a winner always a winner.

* Hole: I’m not even sure if you know how foolish your little ditty that you come on here with. It usually involves Hector catching and Buster playing first base.

* You have a % that you like to throw around and the one you like to use involves Belt on the bench. However you know how idiotic that would sound if you tried it tonight because BB9 almost went 5/5 but finished at four for five. Next you might say one of BB9′s singles was a gift cause the ROX scorekeeper gifted him one of his early hits.

* You are so leaking oil

Polioptila Californica

Romito fails in the clutch.

ClutchUp

LetsSpeculate says: August 27th, 2013 at 8:42 pm 65..If the Giants keep Lincecum, it’ll be a good idea to keep Hector Sanchez around too, since he does much better with Hector as his catcher (true even with the no-no thrown to Buster).

Hmmm… I’ll have to check that out…. Hector has missed most of the season up in the Show and that means 28 and KeeRozee did all the rest of the catching. No?

http://jondowdsrevenge.wordpress.com/ sanfradodgerfan

Baggs tweets that Petit’s win tonight was his first since 2009-against the jints

Foothills Ryan

Comfortably pencil in Yusmeiro Petit into your 2014 rotation.

Cain
Bumgarner
???
Vogelsong
Petit

Lefty

Yes, I’m so confused. 2hole says Belt in the lineup makes the Giants lose, but Hector in the lineup makes the Giants win. So tonight they both played and the Giants won. So is Hector the Good Witch of the North who is stronger than Belt, the Wicked Witch of the West?

Hmmm…Buster sits out tonight, Giants win. He screwed up Zito last night and he can’t catch Lincecum.

It’s obvious. The problem with the Giants is Buster Posey. Their W-L record without him this week is 1.000. And that’s what it’s about, wins and losses, right?

Foothills Ryan

Hector is looking pretty good. Good at the plate and better behind it. Can’t trade him. He needs to be the guy behind Posey.

Stickman, I’m with you. Belt could do a Tony Gwynn impersonation. That’s how he looked tonight anyway.

I like him as a 2holehitter.

Lefty

Yes, I’m so confused. 2hole says Belt in the lineup makes the Giants lose, but Hector in the lineup makes the Giants win. So tonight they both played and the Giants won. So is Hector the Good Witch of the North who is stronger than Belt, the Wicked Witch of the West?

Hmmm…Buster sits out tonight, Giants win. He messed up Zito last night and he can’t catch Lincecum.

It’s obvious. The problem with the Giants is Buster Posey. Their W-L record without him this week is 1.000. And that’s what it’s about, wins and losses, right?

E-B

Lefty, 9:08 pm: ; )

great post

E-B

good job by Petit & Co.

Pence’s blast was spectacular.

Pablos follow-up was dazzling.

Belt, Blanco and Sanchie had good ABs today.

nice to see r boys play good baseball.

Lefty

Blanco looked like late 2012/early 2013 Blanco tonight–hustling that single+ into three bases and scoring on Scutaro’s sac fly, getting a great jump and gliding to that sinking liner. I’m missed that guy. I liked that guy.

Romo was absolutely filthy nasty tonight. He carved up that second lefty like it was his Thanksgiving turkey. Whatever we have and haven’t learned about the Giants this year, Romo is NOT one of the problems.

ClutchUp

Jiminy Christmas…

Soriano hit 2 more HR’s today….

Romo=11 pitches
No runners

Yep screw the torture. Romo’s legit when used correctly.

ClutchUp

Jiminy Christmas…

Soriano hit 2 more HR’s today….

Romo=11 pitches
No runners

Yep scr*w the torture. Romo’s legit when used correctly.

carmot

Go Cubbies!

Top of the 7th, bases loaded, none out.
Just sayin’.

carmot

Dang. I couldn’t have possibly jinxed ‘em… (?!)
Scored only one run.

BEAT LA!

408svl

YUSMERI PETIT. hmm. maybe, he is auditioning for next year’s SP spot. a career minor leaguer? hmm. maybe, he honed his craft or finally figured it out.

don’t call back those who were already with this year’s team. KONTOS and DUNNING would be a good addition but i would want to see new faces. say, like HEMBREE. why bring back QUROZ? SANCHEZ is finally healthy. why bother bringing him back to the BIGS. bring back PEREZ and would want to see what he could as a hitter.

ANDRES ” THE GIANT ” TORRES. thanks for the memories you left behind, dude. from i heard and read you are such a nice guy to be around with.

http://nada paul in p.v.

CC: gracias! for that link to that twisted murder flick! El Snorkel

wine baroness

“Kershaw’s killing me tonight”

Ohh to be that lucky…throw in Dodger blue too..

MLBSF

Listen to everyone going on and on about how the Giants are a good team now because they’ve won one in a row against the horrific Rockies.

smh

Remember when everyone was mocking me for giving Pence a B+ and how everyone wanted to trade him. smh

Looks like I was right again for wanting to keep him. Well maybe Lefty wanted to keep him. And Woj.

I say we have to sign him for next season for sure. He is the least of our problems.

Thank goodness Torres got injured so Bochy can’t play him anymore. Well not thank goodness he got injured but you know what I mean.

Now if only if would happen to Blanco.

Let’s hope Sabean doesn’t mortgage the franchise trying to improve us next year like he did getting rid of Zack Wheeler.

What a disastrous trade that was. It’s going to affect us for years and years to come I bet.

GSDubs

I don’t think one game in August between two out of contention teams annoints anyone a spot in next year’s rotation even written in pencil. He may be pitching himself into the back of the rotation mix in spring training. That’s about it.

Eleuthero

In a season like this, we all need a moment of levity. On the Giants postgame show tonight, Vida Blue said that Barry Zito actually said, now hold onto your undies, that his “stuff this year is every bit as good as last year”. Maybe the guy does pat babies on the head and donate to USO but he always comes off, even in victory, like a flat-affected sourpuss.

I’ll take Pence and Pagan’s youthful fire any day over Zito’s “professionalism”.

Lefty

Oh, they have to keep Pence. He’ll be expensive, but that’s what the market is. He can be erratic and frustrating sometimes, but the combination of power and speed is pretty jaw-dropping. Holy cow, they said that was the longest HR in the major leagues this year!

Add that he’s got a great attitude and work ethic and hustle and loves the fans and is a terrific teammate–I don’t see how you let all that walk if you can do anything to stop him.

And then there’s Pablo. Nice oppo backspin HR tonight–vintage Pablo. Our Alex said on KNBR today that several players in the clubhouse “roll their eyes” when asked about him. I can imagine. They may be rolling their eyes, but I bet the middle-aged suits are pulling out what’s left of their hair. So much talent and personality but so maddening and undependable.

Vegas Giants Fan

Milb notes:

AZL Giants: Arroyo 1 for 4 HR 2 RBI .322

Augusta: Agosta (9-3, 2.06) 5 IP 4 H 2 R 2 ER 3 BB 6 K’s

San Jose: Blackburn 6 IP 3 H 0 R 1 BB 7 K’s 3.65 ERA

Richmond: Villalona 2 for 5 2B R .240

Fresno: Dunning 2 IP 0 H 0 R 2 BB 1 K 1.31 ERA

Minor League Update.

The Oracle

Anyone who thinks Petit belongs anywhere near the rotation next year is kidding themselves.

Eleuthero

Oracle said;
Anyone who thinks Petit belongs anywhere near the rotation next year is kidding themselves.
**********************************************************

This comes from the “one data point is not a sample” files. In fact, this was a night where the Rockies looked like they were “mailing it in”. Tulowitski and other hitters were letting hanging high sliders be balls instead of extra base hits. Neither the Rockies nor their crowd had any spark whatsoever.

Well, now it’s the dregs playing the dregs in the dreggiest division in baseball … the NL West.

4holebat

Let this guy heal and go someplace else. He is a fifth outfielder on any team at best, and even the Mets did not want him back. He is another example of Sabean and Bochy’s love fest for a washed up player (Huff) who has no business being in the lineup.